siennamum
Well-Known Member
Poor Coco, my unbroken rising 4 year old has been stuck in his field for weeks, I simply haven't had the time to do more than ferry hay and water back and forth in all the snow and freezing conditions.
Yesterday I was alone at the yard, but still thought he should come in. As I was walking back across the field with him I glanced back to see him beginning to launch himself on top of me. He is feeling very colty and fresh at the moment and when I shouted at him he thought he would try and nip my legs instead. Of course I was horrified and frankly scared & so hit him and over reacted so the he was hostile & suspicious and I was feeling very vulnerable with just a headcollar and lead rope & no hat.
Deciding that discretion is the better part of valour I calmed us both down & took the headcollar off. I couldn't possibly let him get away with this though and so went and fetched the lunge rope, whip, cavesson,gloves & a hat.
The next 20 mins will not go down as any kind of example of horse management, as I lunged him, with his rug still on, on the side of a muddy hill. He fell over, I fell over, I lost my temper, he lost his temper. Imagine Laurel & Hardy do lunging and a lot of tangled lunge reins & whip waving and you are about there. Generally we ended up seeing eye to eye and I was able to give him a carrot & pat him at the end.
I was covered in mud & very demoralised & feeling incompetent & too bad tempered for such a sensitive horse.
Then today, I brought in him and he was a changed horse. I tacked him up, lunged him in tack took him for a quick walk. Then I got on for the 1st time properly and with Sam leading, rode him for 10 mins at walk & halt in the hay barn. He was angeleic, thrilled to be working & very sweet & submissive.
Honestly young horses, whod'e have 'em.! Really looking forward to hacking out next!!
Yesterday I was alone at the yard, but still thought he should come in. As I was walking back across the field with him I glanced back to see him beginning to launch himself on top of me. He is feeling very colty and fresh at the moment and when I shouted at him he thought he would try and nip my legs instead. Of course I was horrified and frankly scared & so hit him and over reacted so the he was hostile & suspicious and I was feeling very vulnerable with just a headcollar and lead rope & no hat.
Deciding that discretion is the better part of valour I calmed us both down & took the headcollar off. I couldn't possibly let him get away with this though and so went and fetched the lunge rope, whip, cavesson,gloves & a hat.
The next 20 mins will not go down as any kind of example of horse management, as I lunged him, with his rug still on, on the side of a muddy hill. He fell over, I fell over, I lost my temper, he lost his temper. Imagine Laurel & Hardy do lunging and a lot of tangled lunge reins & whip waving and you are about there. Generally we ended up seeing eye to eye and I was able to give him a carrot & pat him at the end.
I was covered in mud & very demoralised & feeling incompetent & too bad tempered for such a sensitive horse.
Then today, I brought in him and he was a changed horse. I tacked him up, lunged him in tack took him for a quick walk. Then I got on for the 1st time properly and with Sam leading, rode him for 10 mins at walk & halt in the hay barn. He was angeleic, thrilled to be working & very sweet & submissive.
Honestly young horses, whod'e have 'em.! Really looking forward to hacking out next!!
